Rome is one of those amazing cities where around every corner there is a magnificent ancient building or something new to discover. History seems to burst out of every crumbling ruin. The extremely powerful Roman Empire's heart was here in Rome. The Romans brought this city to fame and made it last. 

Going to Rome was like a school excursion. We learnt so much about the history of Rome and The Roman Empire.  Rome is full of big imposing buildings waiting to be explored. Here's a little 'taster' of the history of Rome: Rome started by an Italian city supposedly founded by to orphan brothers brought up by a she-wolf. The people of Rome overthrew their King and beacme a democracy. The three riches men in the city ruled it but soon they became power hungry. They took over the rest of Italy and beyond. The Roman Empire grew too big so Julius Caesar came to power. he conquered most of the 'known world' back then. But along the way he made lots of enemies including his own son. They rebelled and murdered him. That started the fall of Rome. After Caesar, the rulers just weren't good enough to keep the empire Caesar had made. The empire gradually fell as the countries in it fought back until it was just Rome. Then it got wiped out completely through the dark ages until discovered again by archeologists. In short Rome rose for 200 years, peaked for 300 years and fell for 200 years.

The Coliseum was no. 1 on our list of things to do. The Coliseum came alive as we were taught (on our audio guide) about the gladiators, the spectator and more on just what kind of life the ancient romans lived. Lachie said it was his favourite building we have seen on our trip so far. He said it was interesting to see the place the gladiators fought (I agree!). It is the size of the Coliseum that amazes me. It is massive yet intricate at the same time.  We had a great time exploring the Forum, Pantheon and the Spanish steps. 

But our time in Rome wasn't just about history. We also had a bit of crazy fun. In a beautiful Roman garden we hired a weird bike contraption. It was a six seater pedal car. Dad, Mum, William and I pedalled while Lachie and Timmy sat at the front. A lot of people had a little stare at us. We just laugh the whole way. Mum and Dad said it was one of the best €20 they had spent for a while!

Rome really is a special place. The ancients called it "the eternal city".  Although the Roman Empire fell hundreds of years ago, it still holds the magic Ancient Rome. 

A blog about Italy is not complete without a mention of food. Italy is world-renowned for its delicious food. Gelato, pizza, pasta, steaks, antipasto and more bring people together in "Eataly". 

Italy is home to gelato and I was really looking forward to licking my first Italian gelato. So as we arrived in Italy the search began for the perfecto gelato. 

We visited Venice, Florence, Tuscany, Pisa, the Amalfi Coast and Rome. Florence is supposed to have the best gelato in Italy. On the first day of Florence, after a many hours if touring the city, frying under the Italian summer sun, we needed a gelato. We found a gelato shop in a side street. The first lick melted in our mouths. This gelato shot up to the top of the list. Another day in Florence proved that Florence has the best gelato. This one didn't have as many flavours but it is "quality not quantity". It topped the other by a smidgen. Our next great gelato stop was at the island if Capri. Mum read in a guide book that this place made its own waffle cones. We followed our noses. The fresh homemade waffle cones were delicious! Topped with tasty gelato, this shop became equal first. In Rome, friends of ours recommended some places. The first was homemade and fresh.  They had fresh fruit on display and all the flavours were of the season.  The next gelato shop worth mentioning was on our last day. William and I spotted a gelato sign so we went and checked it out. It said "organic homemade gelato" so we beckoned the rest of our family over. Mmm...it was heavenly. It tied first (again). We ended up with about 4 tied firsts 😄.  

Although Italy has delicious "dolci" (desserts), Italians are even better at savoury. 

A shop in Venice had homemade soft pasta with an excellent sauce. That was our first and best pasta in Italy. The man in the shop was very kind and gave Mum a bag of spiced salt to do some cooking of her own. Around the word (and at home) we often collect freebies, such as a few hours ago we got some free short bread cookies from the bakery :). 

The award for the best pizza goes to a Pizzeria on the Amalfi coast. Fresh ingredients and yum dough made it great. In Italy all the best foods are fresh or "fresco". We learnt a lot of food words along the way too. That same shop made a brilliant Capri salad. This consists of tomato, buffalo mozzarella and basil. It is a mouthwatering combination of flavours. In Lucca, William and Mum declared their steak the best they'd ever had.  

I like the style of Italian dinners. First there is appetisers which come with the meal (eg. bread) and then you have entree to share with your family (eg. salad or light snacks). For a main dish they have smaller than the ones in Australia because the entree is supposed to be be a alternative. And then if you are still hungry or like my brothers and I and have a "dessert stomach" there is always dessert. 

Italy is a great foodie destination so of course I had a great time exploring the flavours of Italy. 

Venice is one if the most beautiful water cities in the world. It has its own unique charm which brings travellers from all over the globe. 

Venice is actually made up of little islands that people built a city on. My favourite thing about Venice (apart from the fact it has water streets) is the tall houses of faded colours. Yellow, green, blue, red and salmon  houses border the canal. In Australia I've never seen so many coloured houses. Dull greys and browns make up most homes I've seen but these colourful ones make Venice cheerful. 

While we were in Venice we had delicious homemade pasta. We've found so far in Italy, a lot of the shops that aren't in touristy areas have really tasty food. It was the best pasta I've ever had! 

Gondolas are "the thing" for tourists in Venice. Everywhere in the canal you can see glossy elegant gondolas with intricate gold carvings and fluffy crimson pompoms. There is a special fancy chair (more like a throne than a chair) for two. At the back was the gondolier in his striped sailor polo shirt and boater hat. It is quite a sight! Mum and Dad were unsure whether to go on the gondola but in the end part of the charm of going to Venice is having a ride in a gondola. So we did end up going on the gondola. It was a fun ride and made me feel a bit like royalty in such a fancy little boat. 

Venice is the city of gondolas, narrow walkways, colourful houses but most if all it is a city of water. 

Pompeii is amazing!! Just wandering through the streets showed how the inhabitants of Pompeii lived life until the fateful day of 24th August 79 BC when Mount Vesuvius destroyed Pompeii.  

Pompeii was founded in 600 BC. It was under the Roman Empire and was main business town in its time. It is a huge town (as we soon found out) with lots to see. Preserved ancient ruins are around every corner. Tall marble columns are found in the city square. It must have been an amazing prosperous city. As William said, it would be pretty cool to go back in time and see Pompeii come alive. 

Pompeii had a population of 20,000 people. Of the 20 000, 2 000 died as a result of the eruption. We saw two of the poor helpless volcano victims that the archeologists had dug up. Mount Vesuvius was smoking and blew light ash for a couple of days. Very few Pompeiians knew these warning signs of a volcano. A lot of people escaped but others weren't so lucky. On the 24th of August the volcano blew off the whole top of the mountain, literally burying the city in a few short minutes. 

Pompeii had a bakery with a massive pizza-like oven. They had wheat grinders and other kitchen equipment that had survived the volcano. We also saw the famous mosaic "beware the dog". The roman spas were amazing. They had a cool room, a warm room and a hot room depending on what temperature you felt like. Frescos (art) covered the walls and tiny intricate carvings decorated the rooms. That brings me to the water system they had. Three pipes ran around Pompeii. One for the spas, one for the private homes and one for the neighbourhood wells. If the water supply was short, first they would turn off the spa pipe then the private homes so that the neighbourhood wells could ensure that everyone had running water even when there was a shortage. 

The Pompeiians really had it sorted. It's a shame that Mount Vesuvius had to destroy a city with such a bright future.